Jet Set Radio Review Summary

Last updated: 2026-02-17
  • Fun and engaging gameplay
  • Beautiful and unique aesthetics
  • Excellent soundtrack
  • Controls are poorly designed
  • Gameplay feels outdated
  • Game locked at 30 FPS
Jet Set Radio header

Emotions

What players like:

Common complaints:

Gameplay feedback:

Performance notes:

Recommendations:

Other player notes:

Review evidence

Why players say this

What players like

Fun and engaging gameplay: The gameplay is widely praised for being fun, dynamic, and enjoyable. Players find it entertaining and thrilling, with interesting mechanics and level design.

Beautiful and unique aesthetics: The game's art style and graphics are highly praised for being top-notch, gorgeous, and unique. The cel-shaded graphics are noted for holding up well over time.

Excellent soundtrack: The music and soundtrack are frequently mentioned as amazing, impressive, and among the best in video games. The music is described as catchy, upbeat, and thematic.

Cult classic status: The game is regarded as a cult classic and a must-play for fans of Sega and the Dreamcast era.

Unique rollerblading and graffiti concept: The concept of rollerblading and graffiti is highlighted as fun and unique, providing a distinctive gameplay experience.

Common complaints

Controls are poorly designed: Many players find the controls difficult and unintuitive, especially when using a keyboard. The controls are often described as clunky, tricky, and frustrating, making the game hard to play.

Gameplay feels outdated: The gameplay mechanics and controls feel old and rigid, not holding up well under modern scrutiny. This includes issues with the camera and overall gameplay experience.

Game is disappointing: Overall, the game is considered disappointing and not worth recommending. This sentiment encompasses various aspects of the game, including controls, gameplay, and overall experience.

Tutorial is poorly designed: The tutorial is considered awful and poorly made, with some players finding it more difficult than the actual game. This makes the initial learning curve steeper and more frustrating.

Precision platforming issues: The game has frustrating moments related to precision platforming, especially during boss fights. This can make certain sections of the game particularly difficult and annoying.

Gameplay and performance

Skating and graffiti combination: The game combines inline skating with graffiti art, where players skate around the city, performing tricks and spraying graffiti. This unique blend defines the game's objective and concept.

Mixed reviews on controls and mechanics: Players mention the game's controls and difficulty frequently. While some find the controls clunky and poorly aged, others appreciate the game's mechanics and storyline.

Precision platforming focus: The game is a 3D platformer with a strong emphasis on movement, precision platforming, and speed. Players enjoy the platforming aspects that require skill and timing.

Graffiti mechanics central to gameplay: The game heavily features spraying graffiti on walls and marked locations as a core mechanic. Players engage in tagging turf and using spraypainting mechanics throughout the game.

Unlocking characters and achievements: Players can unlock various characters and achievements throughout the game. This adds a layer of progression and replayability.

Game locked at 30 FPS: Multiple players reported that the game is hard-locked at 30 FPS, which affects the gaming experience.

Frequent game crashes: Several users have experienced hard crashes with this version of the game, impacting playability.

Save file issues persist: There are ongoing issues with saving and loading game files, which can impact player progress.

Fixed serious save bug: A serious bug that prevented players from saving progress has been fixed, improving the game's stability.

Critical assets not loading: Some users have reported issues with critical assets not loading properly, affecting gameplay.

Recommendations

Highly recommended to play: Many reviews strongly recommend trying out or playing the game, emphasizing its unique experience.

Port Jet Set Radio Future to PC: Many players are requesting a PC port of Jet Set Radio Future. This includes making it available on platforms like Steam.

Use a controller: Players recommend using a gamepad or controller for the best gaming experience, specifically mentioning Xbox 360 controller.

Play for chaotic fun: The game is recommended for those who enjoy chaotic and colorful gameplay with a vibrant soundtrack.

Try Bomb Rush Cyberfunk: Some players suggest trying Bomb Rush Cyberfunk as an alternative or in addition to Jet Set Radio Future.

Platform notes

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback for the game reveals several key issues. The most prominent problem is with the game's controls, which are frequently described as clunky, bad, or difficult to use. This is a significant concern as controls are a fundamental aspect of gameplay. Additionally, the game's performance is criticized for being locked at 30fps, which can be nauseating and unpleasant for some players. There are also mentions of DRM issues, specifically with DENUVO, which can add friction to the user experience. These issues collectively indicate that while the game may have nostalgic or artistic value, it suffers from technical and design flaws that hinder the overall experience.

Other review notes

Game delisted from platforms: Multiple reviews mention that the game has been delisted from platforms such as Steam. This has led to discussions about whether the game should remain delisted.

Request for modern Android update: Players have expressed a desire for the phone version of the game to be updated to be compatible with modern Android devices.

Game as an art piece: Some reviews describe the game more as a love letter or an art piece rather than a traditional game, highlighting its artistic value.

Inspired real-life skating: A review mentions that the game inspired the player to return to skating in real life, indicating a positive real-world impact.